Eric Smith News

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Two games in five days? That's a cinch for Mark Sanchez. After all, the Jets rookie quarterback once played a junior varsity game on a Thursday and started a varsity game the following day as a high school sophomore.

Darrelle Revis has taken on opposing teams' best wide receivers week after week and shut them down.

Eric Smith is the starting safety, but Kerry Rhodes has earned more playing time for Thursday's game against the Bills in Toronto after responding to his benching with two interceptions Sunday against the Jaguars.

"I shall be telling this with a sigh..." -- Robert Frost, 1920. New York Jets safety Kerry Rhodes sent a message on SundayA that didn't take 140 characters orA fewer against the Carolina Panthers.A The avidA tweeter delivered aA two-interception performance toA stamp a final exclamation point on a tumultuous week that started withA a demotion.

Who : Jets vs. Panthers When : 1:00 P.M. EST Where : Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ Their Last Meeting : Picture it, November 13, 2005: Chad Pennington is out for the year and Brooks Bollinger has been the starter for a while now.

Coach Rex Ryan of the New York has a word with his team against the New England Patriots .

The Carolina Panthers know exactly what the New York Jets are going through. Injuries, costly mistakes and inconsistent performances by key players have both teams sitting at 4-6 and barely alive in the playoff hunt.

After the Jets held their voluntary minicamp in April, first-year coach Rex Ryan didn't come away with a terrific impression of fourth-year safety Eric Smith.

For the first time in his NFL career, Kerry Rhodes is no longer a starting safety.

Mike Shanahan had what he called "an excellent meeting'' with the Bills, who are looking for a coach after firing Dick Jauron.

According to Jay Glazer from Fox Sports, Kerry Rhodes is being benched this week and Eric Smith will start in his place.A Via Twitter: Jay_Glazer jets players tell me team is benching saftery kerry rhodes for eric smith this week.

Next game: New England at New Orleans, 8:30 p.m. next Monday . The Jets didn't do much offensively in the first half, but special teams provided a boost when Eric Smith blocked Chris Hanson's punt and Brad Smith returned it 4 yards for a touchdown with 50 seconds left.

Some quickie thoughts on the Jets' sixth loss in their last seven games: 1. I get the whole rookie thing with Mark Sanchez, how he's learning on the job, but he seems to make the same mistakes over and over.

Eric Smith Blocks the punt and Brad Smith takes it in for a TD against the Patriots.

New York Jets players comment on their 31-14 loss to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, November 22, 2009.

The victory gave them a two-game lead in the AFC East and sent the Jets to their sixth loss in seven games.

Showing you this picture of Jim Leonhard, from his Ravens days, to explain why he's so important to the Jets defense.

Before we get to the six-pack analysis, a tiny bit of news: The Jets added RT Damien Woody to the injury report tonight as probable.

Coach Rex Ryan said Leonhard had surgery Monday night and didn't practice Wednesday, but wouldn't rule him out.

Jets safety/punt returner Jim Leonhard is questionable for Sunday's game at New England.